Introduction Similar to kangaroos, Chunia illuminata was a small marsupial. It was found in Australia during the early Mioscene, which was around 5-23 million years ago. The fossils of these small possums are mainly found in Queensland (Riversleigh) and areas of South Australia (Lake Palankarinna.) The name Chunia comes from China-styled glazed pottery during the sung dynasty since the pottery was similar to their fine-lined teeth.
Although Chunia illuminata is not the direct ancestor of Sugar glider, they are very close relatives. Chunia also resembles sugar gliders in many ways including its appearance, life style and diet. Chunia illuminata are about 40cm in length, they have large eyes for night vision and short snouts. They have a dark brown fur on their back, white creamy belly fur accompanied by a long white tipped fluffy tail.
Habitat As shown in figure 2, Chunia illuminata are native to Australia. However these small possums are only found parts of Australia, the yellow shaded areas on the map, namely South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. They live in woodlands of all kind, and stays on the tree most of the time.
From the distribution of Chunia illuminata, it is believed that they tend to live in temperate and tropical climate, where there are no extreme temperature and precipitation changes. The place they live in is generally warmer as well, the average temperature for all-year-round is 20 to 29 Celsius. Their surrounding environment is also full of moisture, since there is a fair to large amount of rainfall in temperate and tropical climate.
The small marsupials are mainly found on trees of woodlands. There are a wide variety of woodland in Australia, these includes grey box woodland, black box woodland, white box woodland and many more. Trees are more scattered in woodlands compared to forests and the under storey is composed of grasses, shrubs and small trees. The dominant trees in Australia’s woodland are either eucalypts or wattle providing homes to numerous animals such as chunia illuminata, superb parrot, numbat, wombat and many more.
The habitat of Chunia illuminata is of course greatly associated with its food source. These marsupials are mostly granivores (feed on seeds,) however they can be omnivores, like Coyote, as well. Their main diet is based seeds, nuts and leaves, whereas occasionally they will prey on aquatic vertebrates and small insects. As a result, the area that they live in are filled with trees and their nests are to be nearby the stream or river which provides food source for Chunia illuminata. Water is another key feature as it is essential for them to consume and it is used for cooling off as well.
Adaptations
Structural adaptation 1: Sharp claws Sharp claws are a very helpful adaptation of the chunia illuminata. The claws aid them in many ways, namely travel, collecting food and defense. The sharp claws enable chunia illuminata to grab onto tree branches firmly and this them from falling. This adaptation also allows them to catch their prey more easily, especially aquatic vertebrates, which prevents them from starving. Another advantage of this adaptation is that chunia illuminatas can defend themselves when other animals try to attack them. Possible environmental pressures that led to the development of this adaptation include the increasing number of predators, food scarcity and the difficulty to stay stably on trees. Without this adaptation, chunia illuminata are more likely to be eaten or die of starvation.
Structural adaptation 2: Rod-rich large eyes (nocturnal vision) Similar to wombat, Chunia illuminata are nocturnal and therefore they are equipped with large, forward facing eyes. These rod-rich eyes are used for nocturnal vision, in other words night vision. Also, large eyes provide a wider range of sight, allowing the animal to have a better view. This is a very significant adaptation since it aids the animal in seeing their surrounding environment. Without this adaptation, chunia may not spot their predator or prey, which decreases their survival rate as they are more likely to be eaten and are less likely to collect food. Possible environmental pressure leading to the development of this adaptation may be due to the increasing number of predators during day time and being nocturnal requires nocturnal vision or else it would be impossible to survive. Whereas the extinction pressure is that the animal’s pupil is not efficient enough at blocking light out during day time, causing eye damage at the same time decreasing its survival rate. Eyesight is very important to animals, without it we do not know what is happening around us and therefore more likely to be eaten.
Behavioral 1: Living on the trees Chunia illuminata are small possums that live on the tree. The advantages of living on the tree are that the glider can prevent ground predators from eating them and the trees provide a wide variety of food source. However, living on trees can be dangerous as well, since these small creatures may fall. They may also be eaten by other stronger animals on trees such as birds. Environmental pressures leading to this adaptation is that there are more ground predators than those predators on trees and the main food source of chunia illuminata are located on trees. On the other hand, the extinction pressure is due to the fact that chunia illuminata are a lot much weaker than their predators on trees since chunia cannot fly or travel at a high speed and for this reason they are eaten by other animals easily. Eventually they die out.
Behavioral Adaptation 2: As mentioned above, Chunia illuminata are nocturnal animals, meaning that they are active at night and they rest during daytime. This is an important adaptation that has been passed on to its descendants, the sugar glider. Being nocturnal, is a big advantage for the chunia illuminata, they can avoid competition for resources. These small possums can also hide in the dark and prevent themselves from being eaten by predators. Besides the above benefits, chunia can also stay away from the heat during daytime. This way they can conserve water in their body and do not need to visit water sources that often. An environmental pressure leading to this adaptation may be the fact that chunia lives in woodland, a place where more sun light are shone through trees and consequently the heat kills out chunia. To escape from the heat, chunia has evolved to become nocturnal.
Physiological Adaptation: Efficient digestion Chunia illuminata have efficient digestion system, they are omnivores and they consume both vegetables and meat. This adaptation of theirs helped them to digest food easily at the same time allowing them to consume other food and stay healthy. It also helps them to get rid of poisonous food in their body. A possible environmental pressure leading to this adaptation is that the food in forests are not always clean or safe to eat, therefore having a efficient digestion is very important. It assists the animal in removing unwanted stuff in their body that can be harmful.
Chunia illuminata
Similar to kangaroos, Chunia illuminata was a small marsupial. It was found in Australia during the early Mioscene, which was around 5-23 million years ago. The fossils of these small possums are mainly found in Queensland (Riversleigh) and areas of South Australia (Lake Palankarinna.) The name Chunia comes from China-styled glazed pottery during the sung dynasty since the pottery was similar to their fine-lined teeth.
Although Chunia illuminata is not the direct ancestor of Sugar glider, they are very close relatives. Chunia also resembles sugar gliders in many ways including its appearance, life style and diet. Chunia illuminata are about 40cm in length, they have large eyes for night vision and short snouts. They have a dark brown fur on their back, white creamy belly fur accompanied by a long white tipped fluffy tail.
Figure 1: Picture of Chunia illuminata
Source (image only):
http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Chunia-illuminata/
Taxonomy Of Chunia Illuminata
Diagram
Diagram 1: Chunia Illuminata
Habitat
As shown in figure 2, Chunia illuminata are native to Australia. However these small possums are only found parts of Australia, the yellow shaded areas on the map, namely South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. They live in woodlands of all kind, and stays on the tree most of the time.
From the distribution of Chunia illuminata, it is believed that they tend to live in temperate and tropical climate, where there are no extreme temperature and precipitation changes. The place they live in is generally warmer as well, the average temperature for all-year-round is 20 to 29 Celsius. Their surrounding environment is also full of moisture, since there is a fair to large amount of rainfall in temperate and tropical climate.
The small marsupials are mainly found on trees of woodlands. There are a wide variety of woodland in Australia, these includes grey box woodland, black box woodland, white box woodland and many more. Trees are more scattered in woodlands compared to forests and the under storey is composed of grasses, shrubs and small trees. The dominant trees in Australia’s woodland are either eucalypts or wattle providing homes to numerous animals such as chunia illuminata, superb parrot, numbat, wombat and many more.
The habitat of Chunia illuminata is of course greatly associated with its food source. These marsupials are mostly granivores (feed on seeds,) however they can be omnivores, like Coyote, as well. Their main diet is based seeds, nuts and leaves, whereas occasionally they will prey on aquatic vertebrates and small insects. As a result, the area that they live in are filled with trees and their nests are to be nearby the stream or river which provides food source for Chunia illuminata. Water is another key feature as it is essential for them to consume and it is used for cooling off as well.
Adaptations
Sharp claws are a very helpful adaptation of the chunia illuminata. The claws aid them in many ways, namely travel, collecting food and defense. The sharp claws enable chunia illuminata to grab onto tree branches firmly and this them from falling. This adaptation also allows them to catch their prey more easily, especially aquatic vertebrates, which prevents them from starving. Another advantage of this adaptation is that chunia illuminatas can defend themselves when other animals try to attack them. Possible environmental pressures that led to the development of this adaptation include the increasing number of predators, food scarcity and the difficulty to stay stably on trees. Without this adaptation, chunia illuminata are more likely to be eaten or die of starvation.
Structural adaptation 2: Rod-rich large eyes (nocturnal vision)
Similar to wombat, Chunia illuminata are nocturnal and therefore they are equipped with large, forward facing eyes. These rod-rich eyes are used for nocturnal vision, in other words night vision. Also, large eyes provide a wider range of sight, allowing the animal to have a better view. This is a very significant adaptation since it aids the animal in seeing their surrounding environment. Without this adaptation, chunia may not spot their predator or prey, which decreases their survival rate as they are more likely to be eaten and are less likely to collect food. Possible environmental pressure leading to the development of this adaptation may be due to the increasing number of predators during day time and being nocturnal requires nocturnal vision or else it would be impossible to survive. Whereas the extinction pressure is that the animal’s pupil is not efficient enough at blocking light out during day time, causing eye damage at the same time decreasing its survival rate. Eyesight is very important to animals, without it we do not know what is happening around us and therefore more likely to be eaten.
Chunia illuminata are small possums that live on the tree. The advantages of living on the tree are that the glider can prevent ground predators from eating them and the trees provide a wide variety of food source. However, living on trees can be dangerous as well, since these small creatures may fall. They may also be eaten by other stronger animals on trees such as birds. Environmental pressures leading to this adaptation is that there are more ground predators than those predators on trees and the main food source of chunia illuminata are located on trees. On the other hand, the extinction pressure is due to the fact that chunia illuminata are a lot much weaker than their predators on trees since chunia cannot fly or travel at a high speed and for this reason they are eaten by other animals easily. Eventually they die out.
Behavioral Adaptation 2:
As mentioned above, Chunia illuminata are nocturnal animals, meaning that they are active at night and they rest during daytime. This is an important adaptation that has been passed on to its descendants, the sugar glider. Being nocturnal, is a big advantage for the chunia illuminata, they can avoid competition for resources. These small possums can also hide in the dark and prevent themselves from being eaten by predators. Besides the above benefits, chunia can also stay away from the heat during daytime. This way they can conserve water in their body and do not need to visit water sources that often. An environmental pressure leading to this adaptation may be the fact that chunia lives in woodland, a place where more sun light are shone through trees and consequently the heat kills out chunia. To escape from the heat, chunia has evolved to become nocturnal.
Physiological Adaptation: Efficient digestion
Chunia illuminata have efficient digestion system, they are omnivores and they consume both vegetables and meat. This adaptation of theirs helped them to digest food easily at the same time allowing them to consume other food and stay healthy. It also helps them to get rid of poisonous food in their body. A possible environmental pressure leading to this adaptation is that the food in forests are not always clean or safe to eat, therefore having a efficient digestion is very important. It assists the animal in removing unwanted stuff in their body that can be harmful.
Bibliography
- Australian Government, (2009.) Woodland. Retrieved 18th of July, from:
http://www.environment.gov.au/land/pressures/firewood/woodlands.html
- Australian Museum, (2010.) Chunia Illuminata. Retrieved 20th of July from:
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Chunia-illuminata
- Biomedia Associates, (2010). How do animals see in dark? Retrieved 18th of July from:
http://www.ebiomedia.com/Eyes/How-do-animals-see-in-the-dark.html
- John A. Long,Michael Archer, (n.d.) Prehistoric mammals of Australia and New Guinea: one hundred million years of evolution. Retrieved 21st of July, 2010. From:
http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=LwMkO0M1mPQC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139&dq=chunia+illuminata+fine+lines&source=bl&ots=GddaImr-19&sig=9_6iTY6pg0-jEi3PgzRScNcVs8U&hl=zh-TW&ei=BC1QTOb7LJK-cefXjMcB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=chunia%20illuminata%20fine%20lines&f=false
- Neal Robbins, (2007.) Chunia – A Marsupial. Retrieved 25th of July, 2010, from:
http://www.infohub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10587